Chapter 18
Connor
The safehouse is quiet, the kind of stillness that settles over a suburban apartment at midnight, broken only by the faint hum of crickets outside and the soft, even breathing of Luke asleep on the couch…
“Cute,” I whisper, my voice low and gruff. “Maybe too cute. Hell, who am I kidding?”
Luke’s curled up in that pale blue romper suit, unicorns and stars glowing faintly under the dim light of a single lamp.
Swift’s tucked under his arm, his orange beak pressed against his cheek, and an empty bottle of warm milk—a delightful extra that came with the romper, something I warmed up for him when his Little side was in full swing—sits on the coffee table, a reminder of the playtime we shared earlier.
Watching sweet Luke build that block castle, giggling and babbling about being a unicorn young man, was like stepping into a different world, one where the cartel, Haynes, and hit lists didn’t exist. My Daddy side soaked it up, loving every second of his unguarded joy, his trust in me growing with every block we stacked together.
But now, with the darling boy fast asleep, the weight of the mission crashes back onto me.
There’s no escaping the fact that this is a very, very dangerous situation that we’re involved in.
It’s all part of my life, but for Luke it’s something he truly won’t have experience before even on his most dangerous previous investigations.
I’m sitting at the kitchen table, my laptop open, the screen’s blue glow casting shadows across my hands. My gun is within reach, a habit I can’t shake, not with Luke’s name on a cartel hit list. My phone buzzes, a new message from Cole, and I grab it, my gut tightening as I read:
COLE: Confirmed hit list. Client’s name is priority one—Mallen’s orders. Enforcers are sweeping West Quay, now branching into nearby towns. Shipment’s still on for docks, three days out. Get him secure, Connor. They’re not playing.
I clench my jaw, the words burning into me.
Priority one.
That means Luke’s not just a target—he’s the target, the one they’ll burn everything down to get. I’ve dealt with cartels before—ops where the stakes were high and the body count higher—but this feels different.
It’s personal.
My Daddy side’s roaring, vowing to protect him, to wrap him up and keep him safe from the monsters hunting him. But my Guard side’s colder, calculating, knowing that one wrong move could get us both killed.
The two are at war, tearing at me, and I’m not sure which one’s winning—I have to stay sharp, calm, and ready to act. Luke knows his own mind, but there might come a time very soon where any and all decisions will be made purely by me, even if the boy doesn’t remotely like it.
I might be getting on much better with Luke, but I’ll happily chuck all my good will out of the window if it means keeping him alive.
I glance at the boy, his chest rising and falling, his lips slightly parted, and my heart twists. He’s so damn vulnerable like this, all soft and Little, trusting me to keep him safe.
I think back to this afternoon, him in that romper, giggling as we built that wobbly block castle, his eyes bright with a joy I haven’t seen in days.
It was like seeing the real Luke, the one he hides behind his journalist fire and stubborn streak. My Daddy side loved it, loved being part of his world, loved the way he looked at me, like I was more than just a bodyguard.
But now, with Cole’s message staring me in the face, I know I can’t let those feelings cloud my focus. Especially not when Mallen’s enforcers are closing in.
I stand, pacing silently, my boots soft on the carpet.
The safehouse is secure—alarms, cameras, a deadbolt that’d take a battering ram to break—but it’s not enough. Not with a cartel this determined.
I need to get that flash drive from him, crack it open, see what he’s got that’s making him such a high-priority target.
He told me about the emails, the bank records, the possible murder and bribery links, but he’s still holding back, still clutching that drive like it’s his everything—and maybe it is.
I get it—his story’s everything to him—but if it’s got evidence tying Haynes to murders, it’s no wonder the cartel’s desperate to shut him down. We need to get to work on it, and we need to make some serious progress too.
I stop pacing, leaning against the wall, my eyes on Luke again.
That romper, those unicorns and stars—it’s so damn him, and it’s got me all twisted up.
I think back to three years ago, our first kiss under that streetlight. I’d buried it, told myself it was just a moment, but seeing him now, asleep, vulnerable, trusting me—it’s all coming back, stronger, hotter, more intense than before.
My Daddy side wants to scoop the boy up, hold him close, promise him the world.
My Guard side’s screaming to stay sharp, to keep him at arm’s length, to focus on the threat.
It’s a war I’m not sure I can win.
A soft murmur pulls me from my thoughts, and I look over to see Luke stirring, his eyes fluttering open.
He blinks, sleepy and confused, then spots me, a small smile curving his lips.
“Connor?” he asks, his voice thick with sleep, all Little and soft. “You’re still up?”
I nod, crossing the room to crouch beside the couch, my hand resting on the armrest.
“Couldn’t sleep,” I say, my voice low, trying to keep it light. “You okay, Little Scoop?”
The darling boy stretches, hugging Swift tighter, and nods, his eyes still heavy but warm.
“Yeah. Just… had a dream about unicorns,” Luke giggles, a soft, Little sound, and my chest aches, that Daddy urge to protect him hitting hard. “Thanks for the milk. And the romper. It’s my favorite.”
I smile. This feels good. It feels real good.
“Glad you like it,” I say, my voice gruffer than I mean. “You looked happy today. Playing, building that castle. It was… nice.”
His cheeks flush, and he sits up, Swift in his lap, his eyes locking on mine.
There’s a moment, a beat of silence, where the air between us feels charged, like it did three years ago.
Before I can stop myself, I lean in, and he meets me halfway, his lips brushing mine, soft and hesitant at first, then deeper, hungrier.
It’s our first real kiss since that night under the streetlight, and it’s like a dam breaking, all those old feelings roaring back, igniting something fierce and raw.
Luke’s hands slide to my shoulders, his touch warm through my shirt, and I cup his face, my thumb grazing his cheek, losing myself in him.
It’s everything—his softness, his warmth, the way he melts into me like he’s been waiting for this as long as I have.
My Daddy side is in overdrive, wanting to claim him, to make him mine, but my Guard side’s screaming, pulling me back. I break the kiss, my breath ragged, my forehead resting against his.
“Luke,” I say, my voice rough, “We can’t… not now. Not with everything going on.”
Luke nods, his eyes glistening, but there’s no anger there, just understanding.
“I know,” the boy whispers, his voice shaky but soft. “It’s just… I’ve missed you, Connor. I didn’t realize how much until now. I’ve got so much I want to say…”
Luke’s words hit me like a punch, and I pull back, searching his eyes. He’s so damn open right now, his Little side and his journalist side blending into something raw and real.
“I missed you too,” I admit, my voice low, honest. “But you’re in danger, Little Scoop. That hit list—it’s real, and your name’s at the top. I need to keep you safe, and that means staying focused. We can talk about the other stuff once this is over. I promise.”
Luke bites his lip, clutching Swift, and nods, his eyes flickering with fear but also trust.
“I know I’m in danger,” he says. “I’m scared, Connor. Really scared. But I trust you. More than I thought I would.”
I swallow hard, my hand still on his cheek, and feel that war inside me again—Daddy versus Guard, heart versus duty.
“Good boy,” I say, my voice soft but firm, and his cheeks flush at the praise, his Little side responding even now. “We’re gonna get through this, but you’ve gotta let me in. That flash drive—whatever’s on it, it’s why they’re after you. We need to crack it, together.”
I see Luke hesitate, his fingers tightening on Swift, and I can see the battle in his eyes, that journalist instinct still clinging to his story.
“I’ll… I’ll think about it,” he says, his voice small but earnest. “I’m trying, Connor. I really am.”
I nod, letting it go for now, knowing I can’t push him too hard.
“That’s all I ask,” I say, standing and offering him my hand. “Come on, let’s get you to bed. You need rest, and I need to plan our next move.”
Luke takes my hand, his touch warm and trusting, and stands, Swift still in his arms.
“Okay, Mr. Bossy,” he says, a teasing lilt in his voice, but there’s a softness there too, a hint of that connection we just reignited. I lead him to the bedroom, pulling back the covers, and he climbs in, the romper’s unicorns and stars bright against the plain sheets.
“Sleep tight, Little Scoop,” I say, tucking him in, my Daddy side taking over for just a moment. “I’m right here.”
Luke smiles, his eyes heavy, and murmurs, “Night, Connor.”
He’s asleep again in seconds, Swift clutched tight, and I stand there, watching him, my heart pounding.
That kiss—it’s changed everything, brought back feelings I thought I’d buried, made them bigger, stronger, more dangerous.
I want him, not just as a client, not just as a Little, but as mine.
But with Mallen’s enforcers closing in, with his name on that hit list, I can’t afford to lose focus. Things are about to get complicated, and I need to be ready—for his sake, and for mine.
I head back to the kitchen, grabbing my phone and tapping out a message to Cole:
CONNOR: Client’s secure at Crestwood safehouse. Confirm hit list details—priority one status. Need tech support to decrypt evidence. Enforcers in the area—request surveillance on Crestwood and docks. Advise ASAP.
I hit send and lean back, my eyes drifting to the bedroom door. Luke’s in there, safe for now, but the cartel’s coming, and they’re not stopping. It’s not long before Cole replies, and it seems like his Daddy instincts are flaring up too:
COLE: Got it. Will work to resolve ASAP. The client… this boy… he sounds like quite the special one. Look after him well. But remember, you’re the Daddy… what you say goes at all times. If the situation demands a spanking, then… spank away.
I roll my eyes. I’m not going to give Cole the satisfaction of knowing that I’m well beyond the point of mixing business with pleasure.
“Asshole,” I mutter, a wry smile on my face.
But as amusing as Cole’s teasing is, my Daddy side’s vowing to protect Luke, to be the Daddy he needs, but my Guard side knows it’s gonna take everything I’ve got to keep him alive.
That kiss, those feelings—they’re a fire I can’t put out, but I can’t let them burn me down either.
I grab my gun, check the clip, and settle in for a long night…